MILTON, Ont.— Amateur harness racing driver John Calabrese showcased his skill with a commanding 1:53.1 victory aboard Bettor Than Pride (Betterthancheddar) in the $14,000 Billings Pace at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Monday (Oct. 14).
Starting from post 7, Calabrese quickly took the lead, crossing over to engage 9-5 favourite Typhoon Stride N (driven by Robert Ciavardini) while clocking a swift :27.1 opening quarter. He kept up the pressure down the backstretch, reaching the half in :55.4 as the competition struggled to keep up.
As the field turned for home, little movement was observed from the back, hampered by HF Pans Shadow (Marc Andre Pilon) who encountered issues with stride. Meanwhile, Bettor Than Pride maintained his stride, hitting three-quarters in 1:24.3. He held off a late challenge from Typhoon Stride N, who found space on the outside but ultimately finished second, a length behind.
Rilkoff (Julie Walker), the longest shot on the board, made a strong push to finish third, while That'll Be Tiger (Anthony Verruso) claimed fourth after saving ground throughout the race.